Come and learn in the eight ShimmyCon workshops! Packages ranging from two to all eight workshops are available; single workshop pricing is also available. The workshops are designed to be multi-level, and so are accessible to beginners as well as offering something for those who are already familiar with belly dance. All workshops are 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Schedule
The overall ShimmyCon workshop schedule is below. Click on the titles to view the workshop description.
"Taste of Belly Dance Boot Camp" with Isidora Bushkovski
Saturday, 9:00 am - 10:45 am
A taste of Izzy's signature drills, covering basic technique of the Dance of the East, conveyed in a western approach and taught in a neutral stance to more easily accommodate multiple styles. The drills focus on body mechanics and sound posture, hip work, isolations and traveling, designed for beginners with layers for intermediate and advanced dancers.
"Hands, Arms, and Passion" with Neisa Salima
Saturday, 11:00 am - 12:45 pm
No matter what the level of dancer, hands and arms are always a challenge. This workshop will focus on exercises and drills to build stamina, control, grace, and fluidity in the hands, arms, and upper chest to help dancers of all levels convey confidence, feeling, and meaning in their dance and improve both stage presence and interpretation. These moves will also be incorporated with example hipwork to address that age-old dancer's dilemma: "So, what do I do with my arms?"
"Badia's Beats" with Badia
Saturday, 2:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Do you know your Chiftetelli from your Zaffa? This multi-level workshop will introduce you to some basic combinations that you can fit with most Middle-Eastern rhythms. You will learn to hear and dance to the rhythms and also learn combinations to fit the accents of a specific rhythm. The workshop will be taught with the help of James Sanchez who will be providing the live drumming. Five rhythms from a drum solo will be covered and you will be able to apply what you learned to this song by the end of the workshop. You will learn to hear and dance to the rhythms and the accents of the rhythms. All levels are welcome and layers will be added to challenge more experienced dancers.
"Funky Geometry" with Frank
Saturday, 4:00 pm - 5:45 pm
This workshop explores some of the more slow and serpentine aspects of Tribal Fusion belly dance and fuses them with Contemporary Modern dance. Learn how to create strange shapes and lines with the body that present the illusions of extreme length and bonelessness, then layer isolations and moves over these funky frames to give an eerie and inhuman aesthetic to any performance.
"A Taste of Tribal" with Debbie and Kristina
Sunday, 9:00 am - 10:45 am
Lead and follow is what it's all about in this primarily improvisational group dance. Come and learn tribal posture, arm placements, and formation. Basic slow and fast moves will be taught along with their relevant cues. Participants will be able to try lead and follow in formation. Zills (finger cymbals) can be used and are encouraged, but are not necessary.
"Flirting Shadows (Or, How a Western Girl Dances in Istanbul, not Constantinople)" with Amia Algier
Saturday, 11:00 am - 12:45 pm
Recently inspired by the dancing she saw in Istanbul, Amia rushed home and cooked up this fun and fast-paced choreography, fusing modern Turkish Oryantal with American Cabaret and sprinkling in a bit of fusion attitude. That means lots of energy, lots of tongue-in-cheek sass, and, of course, plenty of hip wiggling! Danced to the song Sehnaz Longa (aka "Flirting Shadows"), this choreography is appropriate for all levels, with lots of opportunities to modify or add-on. There is a very small portion of floor work (on the knees) so bring knee pads or cushioning for comfort if desired.
"The Physics of Veilwork: Developing a Relationship with Your Veil" with Alicia
Saturday, 2:00 pm - 3:45 pm
This workshop will fill your veils and spirits with passion and excitement! Not only is this a great arm and core workout, but you will develop the strength and confidence in your dance (with or without veil) using the simple laws of physics and Alicia's easy to learn techniques. Topics include how to move with your veil, how to choose veil music, how to incorporate dance combinations with your veil, improvising, and all in all how to make the veil look like an extension of you as opposed to a dead, lifeless piece of fabric flailing around. A mini-choreography/combination for all levels will conclude this fun gathering of movement.
A veil will be required for this workshop, so please bring one (a practice-quality veil can be made from a piece of 45 inch wide, 3 yard chiffon). If you do not have a veil, silk veils will be available for purchase from ShimmyCon vendors, and a small number of veils may be available to borrow "for emergencies."
"'Whipping Up' a Routine" with Jaiya
Saturday, 4:00 pm - 5:45 pm
Jaiya brings a bit of Arabic Jazz to ShimmyCon! This workshop will explore how to put oriental moves into our western cultural context, using a choreography to the classic 80's song "Whip It."
Pricing
Several ShimmyCon workshop packages are available to allow you to study with multiple instructors, including packages with show tickets. The preregistration deadline is October 19th.
Package Description
Cost if Preregistered/Prepaid by Oct.19th
Cost at Door
Savings Over Individual Workshop/Ticket if Preregisterd
Diva Package: All weekend workshops and show ticket.
$140
$150
$75
All Weekend Workshops, No Show Ticket
$130
$140
$70
The Starlet Package: One day of workshops and show ticket.
$80
$90
$35
One Day of Workshops, No Show Ticket
$70
$80
$30
Session 1 Package: Two workshops, either Isidora and Neisa (Saturday) or Deb & Kristina and Amia (Sunday).
$40
$50
$10
Session 2 Package: Two workshops, either Badia and Frank (Saturday) or Alicia and Jaiya (Sunday).
